First of all he excused himself for having arrived with so many followers.
'But our good Marcian,' he added, clapping a hand on his companion's shoulder, 'had a story to tell me of a fair lady and fairer maiden--though not long to bear the name, she--who may belike need protection as well as honourable attendance; whereas you, noble Basil, have thought little of the use of arms, and probably keep no very warlike retinue at command.

So I mounted half a dozen bowmen, who will ride and shoot with any Hun, and as many stout fellows who can wield lance or throw javelin, and here they are at your gates.

Have no fear for the girls within doors; my men are both sober and chaste by prudence, if not by nature.

There was a time when I had to make an example here and there'-- he scowled a smile--'but now they know me.' Basil replied as became him, not without some slight imitation of his guest's bluff manliness.

Admiring, as he did, above all things, that which savoured of heroism, he was strongly impressed by Venantius, whose like, among natives of Rome, he had not yet beheld, who shone before him, indeed, in a nobler light than any man he had seen since the days when he worshipped Belisarius.